Rev. Ephraim Weston Clark (1799–1878)
Cover Image: Masthead of Ka Nupepa Kuokoa published on August 10, 1878.
Rev. E. W. Kalaka, translator of many books into Hawaiian including A Dictionary of Biblical Words, dies from what appears as heat stroke. It happened not here in Hawaiʻi—but far away in Illinois. His death was announced initially in Ka Nupepa Kuokoa as follows:
Image: “Ka make ana o Rev. E. W. Kalaka,” Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, August 10, 1878, p. 2.
Most of Honolulu’s people are probably familiar with Rev. E. W. Clark,1 and the members of Kawaiahaʻo Church have probably not forgotten his good works within the church while he was serving in that garden of the Lord here in Hawaiʻi.
This past July 14, 1878, in the city of Chicago, he met with an unfortunate accident, because the sun was very hot; and on July 16, he died.
He sailed here to Hawaiʻi in 1827; he was one of the Missionaries in the third company.
His first wife died earlier in Hawaiʻi in 1858,2 and he remarried thereafter.3
He has two daughters living here in Hawaiʻi, that being the wife of S. L. Austin, Esq. of Hilo, and the wife of Sheriff L. Severance of Hilo; two sons living in California, and one in Japan, the wife of Rev. O. H. Gulick.
When we get the whole story, we will print it later. “Blessed are the dead, who die in the Lord.”
1Clark was also known to Hawaiians as Eperaima W. Kalaka.
2Found under “DIED” on the fifth page of the Polynesian of August 15, 1857, is found: At her residence in this place, on the 17th inst., at 8¼ o’clock, Mary K., wife of Rev. E. W. Clark, aged 54, and for 29 years a resident of these islands. She retained her consciousness to the last and in the midst of the agonies of dissolving nature found the Savior unspeakably precious. “Yea, though I walk through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.”
3Found under “MARRIED” on the second page of the Pacific Commercial Advertiser of November 17, 1859, is found: At St. Johnsbury, Vt., Sept. 12, Rev. E. W. Clark, of Honolulu, S. I., to Mrs. S. Helen Hall, of St. Johnsbury.
Image: Rev. Ephraim Weston Clark, ca. 1857. Bishop Museum Archives. SP 231.
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The following story ran in the Chicago Tribune, July 17, 1878, pp. 1–2
The Rev. Mr. Clark.
An old missionary, the Rev. E. W. Clark, Congregationalist, passed quickly away at 10 o’clock yesterday morning, after an illness of three days, the effect of the heat. Born in Vermont, and educated at Dartmouth, when 28 years old he had left the second installment sent out by the American Board of Foreign Missions. He remained there until 1853, retiring in order to aid in the translation of the Bible into the language of the natives. He also assisted in the mechanical part of the publication, by reading the proof. Being then over 60 years old, he did not go back, but was retired from active service, and, to the day of his death, supervised whatever works were issued for the benefit of the Islanders. He came to Chicago a little over five years ago, two of his children living here, and resided at No. 154 South Wood street. He was a very quiet old gentleman, never taking a public part in church work, but had a great number of friends, especially in the Eastern States and California. He was a hard worker all his life. While his mental powers were fully developed, he was not strong physically. Sunday he went out twice to church and, upon reaching home in the evening, was prostrated by the heat. Through apparently in no danger Monday, yesterday morning there was a sudden change, and he died at the stated time. The funeral services will be held in the Union Park Congregational Church at 11 o’clock this morning.
Image: “Ka make ana o Rev. E. W. Kalaka,” Ko Hawaii Pae Aina, August 17, 1878, p. 2. (Digitized from microfilm.)
The death of Rev. E. W. Clark.
We regret and are sad to report before our readers, the death of Rev. E. W. Clark at Chicago on the 16th of July past, at 79 years of age. He died of the sickness gotten from the stifling head from the sun, on the 14th earlier.
Rev. E. W. Clark was born in Haverhill, New Hampshire, on April 25, 1799; he graduated from Dartmouth College in 1824, and in 1827, he graduated from the divinity school at Andover; and on March 31, 1828, he landed here in Hawaiʻi. He began his missionary work here in Honolulu, where he lived for six years. From here, he lived at Lahaina Luna and Wailuku, where he resided for nine years; and from Wailuku he returned here to Honolulu and served as kahu for the parent church, Kawaiahaʻo. From Honolulu, he returned to America. We are greatly indebted to him for his editing once more and reading the Bible in Hawaiian.
This post is part of He Aupuni Palapala: Preserving and Digitizing the Hawaiian Language Newspapers, a partnership between Bishop Museum and Awaiaulu with assistance from Kamehameha Schools. Mahalo nui loa to Hawaii Tourism Authority for their support. Learn more about this project here.
